Island County Sheriff’s Office seeks whereabouts of California sex offender

The Island County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a level 3 sex offender last seen on South Whidbey. Del E Cohen left California and came to Washington in January of this year without properly advising California of his move and not properly reporting to Washington authorities, according to a public alert issued by the sheriff’s office this week. Cohen, 20, was arrested by Langley police in March for failing to register, and is now no longer at his stated address.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a level 3 sex offender last seen on South Whidbey.

Del E Cohen left California and came to Washington in January of this year without properly advising California of his move and not properly reporting to Washington authorities, according to a public alert issued by the sheriff’s office this week. Cohen, 20, was arrested by Langley police in March for failing to register, and is now no longer at his stated address.

“We do not know where he is, and have been told by family he may have gone back to California,” wrote Sgt. Laura Price, in an email to the newspaper.

Cohen is not currently wanted by the department, but department officials say a warrant for failing to register is forthcoming.

Also, while Cohen may be longer be in the state, officers needed to know when and if he returns, said Detective Ed Wallace, spokesman for the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

“We just want people to be aware that if he shows up back here, we want him,” Wallace said.

Cohen was found guilty in 2011 at the age of 15 of two counts of sexual battery and two counts of indecent exposure, according to court records. He assaulted a female adult riding a bicycle by grabbing her buttocks. He also assaulted a female adult riding a bicycle by “talking to her with sexualized language and then kissed her on the lips, also touching her buttocks and chest,” according to the news release.

Cohen also assaulted two female adults by exposing himself. And in 2014, he was convicted of peeking into a building and masturbating.

All of the incidents took place in California.

Anyone who sees Cohen is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 360-679-9567.